Method for controlling a tool

Abstract

A method for controlling a tool, including the steps: providing a reference matrix including reference points and a centering matrix including centering points in a material processing plane; imaging the material processing plane through a camera as a camera image in a size of a camera image field; de-skewing the camera image of the material processing plane by aligning with the reference matrix; scaling a pixel size of the camera image through aligning with the reference matrix; centering the camera image through aligning with the centering points; projecting a processing contour onto the de-skewed and scaled camera image of a workpiece; and aligning the processing contour on the camera image of the work piece and starting the processing, wherein the processing of the work piece is performed though the tool along the processing contour.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a tool, comprising the steps:
 providing a reference matrix including reference points and a centering matrix including centering points in a material processing plane;   imaging the material processing plane through a camera as a camera image in a size of a camera image field;   de-skewing the camera image of the material processing plane by aligning with the reference matrix;   scaling a pixel size of the camera image through aligning with the reference matrix;   centering the camera image through aligning with the centering points;   projecting a processing contour onto a de-skewed and scaled camera image of a workpiece; and   aligning the processing contour on the de-skewed and scaled camera image of the work piece and starting the processing of the work piece through the tool along the processing contour.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reference matrix and the centering matrix are configured on a reference plate in the material processing plane. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing contour is imported from CAD-data or generated at a processing machine. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein plural processing contours are projected onto the de-skewed and scaled camera image of the work piece. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a size of the camera image field and precision of positioning are adapted to an application through selectable camera-lens arrangement combinations. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool is configured as a laser processing head. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the camera is attached at the laser processing head. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a size of the camera image field is assembled from plural images to form a total image. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the camera is positioned independently from the laser processing head in a machine operating space. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein processing the workpiece is performed through engraving, milling, scratching, sawing or flame cutting.